Wrench.



No. 727,012 7 PATENTED MAY 5, 1903- G. H. SPAULDING.

'WRENGH.

APPLIOATION FILED JAN. 2, 1903.

N0 MODEL.

lllilllllimmm WITNESS E5 I @6 J 6/.

no. 72%,o12.

UNITED STATES Patented May 5, 1903.

PATENT OFFICE.

WRENCH.

SPECIFICATION forming part of I Letters Application filed January 2, 1903.

To all whom, it ntay concern:

Be it known that I, CHARLES H. SPAULDING, a citizen of the United States of America, residing at Brilliant, in the county of Jefferson and State of Ohio, haveinvented certain new and useful Improvements in Wrenches, of which the following is a specification, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawings.

My invention relates to certain new and useful improvements in wrenches, and relates more particularly to that class wherein a quick adjustment of the lower jaw may be obtained in order to increase or decrease the span of the wrenchflaccording to conditions.

One of the objects of my invention'is to embody in a wrench of this type a locking device which shall be of extreme simplicity in operation and mode of construction and which may be readily engaged and disengaged from the shank of the wrench in order to permit of the adjustment of the lower jaw.

Further objects of the invention will ap pear from the following specification, economical construction, however, being one of the aims of the invention.

With the above and other objects in view my invention further consists in the novel details of construction and combination of parts to be clearly described in the following specification and set forth in the claims.

Referring to the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this application, and wherein like characters of referenceindicate simi lar parts throughout the several views, Fig-.

ure 1 is a side elevation of. the wrench embodying my improvements and showing the locking device inan open position. Fig. 2is a like View showing the shank broken away 4o and the locking device in its closedposition. Fig. 3 is an end elevation showing the shank in section; and Fig'. 4 is aside elevation of a slight modification, showing the hinge connecting the locking device to the lower jaw in section and showing a portionof the lower part of the said jaw also in section.

In the application of my invention I employ a shank (designated at 1) and which is provided with the usual handle 2, this shank at its forward end havinga stationary or rigid jaw 3 formed integralt herewith, these enumerated parts being of the ordinary and well- Patent No. 727,012, dated May 5, 190a.

Serial No. 137,577. (No model.)

known construction. This shank 1 is provided with teeth on its opposite ends, which teeth, as shown at 4, on the front side of the shank are of a V shape, while those designated at 5 on the rear side of the shank are of an approximately rectangular form. 'It is permissible, however, to tooth both the front and rear side of the shank with similar forms of teeth, and since this is optional I have illustrated different forms upon the respective opposite sides of the shank.

The movable or adjustable jaw (designated at 6) is adapted to have a free sliding movement on the flat oppositely-disposed faces of the wrench, this jaw having its inner end bifurcated,thereby forming a pair of arms which embrace the slf'ank. This will be more readily understood from inspection of Fig. 3,

'wherein it will be perceived that the arm 7is formed integral with the jaw and terminates at a point to one side of the rear side of the shank. The opposite arm 8 of the jaw extends beyond the arm 7, and its outer end is curved inwardly, so asto have its "end 9 extend approximately at right angles to its major portion. This inbent portion of the arm 8 is spaced from the rear face of the shank and terminates at a point intermediate edges thereof. This jaw 6 has formed in its bottom a series of teeth 10 of such shape as to receive the teeth 4 of the shank, and thereby prevent movement ofthe jaw when the teeth of the same and those of the shank are in close engagement with one another.

The locking device consists of a member 11, approximately of the same width as the sides of the movable jaw, this locking member being hinged to the end 9 of the arm 8 through the medium of spaced lugs 12, formed on the end of the member 11, the space between said lugs receiving lugs 14, formed integral with the end 9 of the arm 8, these lugs when in a position shown in Fig.1 of the drawings receiving a pin 15, headed at its ends to preventlateral movement thereof. This locking member 11 on its free or'outer end is provided with a series of teeth 16 of a shape adapted to engage betweenthe teeth 5 of the shank 1. As will be perceived from Fig. 3 of the drawings, I have shown a catch which consists of a spring member 1'7, preferably formed of a springy material, and which, as.

shown, is preferably flat and of an approximately rectangular form and at its one end is secured to the upper side of the locking member 12 through the medium of a rivet or screw 18. At its free or outer end this spring 17 is provided with a projection 19, preferably formed by striking out the metal ,or such projection may be secured to the spring 17 in any approved fashion. The side 8 is provided with an indentation 20, adapted to receive and retain the projection 19 byvirtue of the spring 17, which carries the projection 19.

It will be perceived from Fig. 3 of the drawings that by throwing the locking device to its open position the teeth 10 of the movable jaw may by a-slight outward pressure on the said jaw be brought out of engagement with the teeth 4 of the shank, which will permit of the movable jaw being adjustable along the shank to any desired position, the movable jaw again having its teeth brought into engagement with the teeth 4 of the shank when the locking device is swung to a position as shown in Fig. 2, at which time the teeth 16 of the locking device will be in engagement with the teeth 5 of theshank 1 and the catch 17 will occupy a position whereby its projection 19 will engage in the depression 20 and secure the member 11 in engagement with the teeth 5 of the shank. It Will befurther perceived that the projection 19 may be readily removed from the depression 20, which will enable the swinging of the locking member out of engagement with the teeth 5, when the movable jaw may be moved outwardly and slid into any desired position.

In Fig. 4 of the drawings I have illustrated a slight modification wherein the teeth on the rear side of the shank are entirely dispensed with and said portion of the shank is shown flat, as shown at 21, the end 22 of the locking member also being fiat and adapted to bear upon the side 21 of the shank. In all other respects this construction may be identical with the preferred form of the invention.

In carrying my invention into practice such changes and alterations may be made as will fall within the scope of the appended claims, since I have merely illustrated and described the most practical embodiment of the invention which I employ at this time.

Having fully described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. The combination with the shank and the fixed jaw, of a movable jaw having its inner end bifurcated thereby forming a pair of arms arranged on opposite sides of said shank, one of said arms being of greater length than the other and having its end extending to the rear of the rear face of the wrench, and a locking member hinged in the end of the last-named arm.

2. In a wrench, the combination with the shank thereof, of the movable jaw, a pair of arms formed integral with said jaw, one of said arms being longer than the other and having its end bent inwardly, and a locking means mounted on the inbent end of said arm.

3. The combination with the shank, and the fixed jaw thereof, of a movable jaw, having its inner end bifurcated thereby forming a pair of arms, a locking member hinged to one of saidarms, and means carried by said locking member for securing the same to the said arm.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

CHARLES I-I. SPAULDING.

Witnesses:

MARY HENRY, T. CHALMEN CLARK. 

